State role unclear in gun limits

Tuesday

Dec 18, 2012 at 12:01 AM

MONTGOMERY | Federal legislation is planned to reinstate a ban on assault-type semiautomatic rifles and ammunition magazines, but how Alabama will participate in the national gun control dialogue is still unfolding.

By Dana BeyerleMontgomery Bureau Chief

MONTGOMERY | Federal legislation is planned to reinstate a ban on assault-type semiautomatic rifles and ammunition magazines, but how Alabama will participate in the national gun control dialogue is still unfolding.U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said Monday that she will introduce legislation that would ban assault-type weapons like the one used by a gunman Friday to kill his mother, 20 elementary school children, six teachers and then himself in Newtown, Conn.The polarizing aspect of “gun control” is that the term means different things to different people, said D’Linell Finley, a political science professor at Alabama State University in Montgomery.“The big problem is that to advocates of the Second Amendment, any time you talk about gun registration and limiting assault weapons, they take it as full-fledged attack on the Second Amendment,” Finley said. “Gun control advocates, when they hear about incidents like these, it’s ‘They want to take away all guns.’“In this case that little school becomes the whole nation,” he said.“I believe there is middle ground to satisfy those who want to hunt and defend their home and some of those who want to see reasonable control.” In a conservative state such as Alabama, there is political reality.“I’m sure that we will be part of the debate, but I really don’t see in Alabama that any kind of firearm will be taken out of people’s hands,” said State Senate Majority Leader Jabo Waggoner, R-Vestavia Hills. “I think the members of the House and Senate ought to encourage people in this state that (the Second Amendment) to the Constitution is safe and secure.”Incoming State Senate Minority Leader Vivian Figures, D-Mobile, said the debate extends beyond gun control.“We need to bring all facets of our community, officials, community leaders, our faith-based leaders, and try to come up with a plan as to how we combat all of this violence. It’s not only going to include gun control but the social problems,” she said.Speculation has occurred about the killer’s mental state and how that might affect the gun debate.“Obviously you’re going to have people jump to conclusions immediately because of some of the past experiences we think along those lines,” said James Dill, executive director of the Alabama Council on Community Mental Health Boards.He said the council will meet in January to decide whether to become part of the discussion.“I’m reluctant to make some type of comment on gun control other than my own personal opinion, because my group hasn’t met on it yet,” he said. “We’ve got to get the conversation away from the polarization of either you have your Second Amendment right or it’s OK to have gun control.”State Sen. Gerald Allen, R-Cottondale, said the discussion should include whether there is adequate screening for mental illness and who is suitable for a firearm.“It’s a good debate, but with the Second Amendment we have to be very careful,” Allen said. “I just think that we got to do a better job in looking at individuals with problems.”Finley said the debate shouldn’t be whether ordinary citizens should be allowed to own hunting rifles, shotguns and sport and home-protection firearms, but whether civilians should be able to buy assault-type weapons that are similar in purpose and appearance to military combat weapons.“In view of the tragedy in Newtown, Conn., is it the time we start taking gun control politics seriously?” he asked.